JP2008099083A - Broadcast receiving device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcast receiving device which sets parental control without deteriorating user-friendliness, and prevents a user from feeling bad. <P>SOLUTION: A controller 2 refers to EPG data stored in an EPG data memory 14, and determines whether or not a word stored in a storing portion 15 is included in the EPG data corresponding to a program broadcasted on a channel selected. For example, when a current time is 16:00 and CH 1 is selected, the determination is positive because a program name (Fig. 3) stored in the storing portion 15 and a performer is included in a program AC of an EPG screen (not shown). When it is determined that the read word is included, the controller 2 turns on a mute function of a D/A converter 8. Thus, a display screen of a display portion 32 becomes a blue back ground or black back ground. Also, a voice outputted from a speaker 31 is muted. This prevents a program not intended by a user from being viewed accidentally. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that selects and reproduces a program from a television broadcast signal, and relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that restricts a program viewed by a user.

  In the current digital broadcasting, the broadcasting station broadcasts program information indicating the attributes (program name, performers, etc.) of the program broadcast on each channel in addition to the program. More specifically, the broadcast station sends out program content several hours ahead, channel content, etc. as program information. The broadcast receiving device on the receiving side receives the program information transmitted from the broadcasting station side. Then, the broadcast receiving apparatus creates an electronic program guide from the program information and provides the user with the electronic program guide on the screen. The electronic program guide is, for example, EPG (Electronic Program Guide).

Therefore, a broadcast receiving apparatus has been proposed that uses this electronic program guide to present a program according to the user's preference (see Patent Document 1). More specifically, this broadcast receiving apparatus includes a storage unit that stores user preference information. Then, the broadcast receiving apparatus searches the program information according to the user's preference using the preference information as a key, and displays the searched program list as a recommended program.
In addition, when a channel is selected, a viewing restriction device that determines whether viewing is possible based on pre-registered viewing availability information and outputs video and audio only when viewing is determined has been proposed (patent) Reference 2).
JP 2005-295585 A JP 2006-166263 A

However, among broadcast programs, there are programs in which performers who dislike users and programs that dislike users are present. In Patent Document 1, a program according to the user's preference is presented. However, when a channel is selected, the user may mistakenly view a program that the user does not want to view.
Therefore, in patent document 1, there existed a problem of harming a user's mood.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, it takes a lot of time to determine whether viewing is possible. Therefore, even if a channel is selected, nothing is output until a determination result is obtained, and the user waits during that time. Therefore, the device proposed in Patent Document 2 has deteriorated user convenience due to viewing restrictions.

  The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and provides a broadcast receiving apparatus that restricts viewing without deteriorating the usability of the user and prevents the user from being offended. Objective.

  The broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.

(1) When a TV broadcast signal is received and a channel is selected, the TV broadcast signal of the selected channel is extracted, the extracted TV broadcast signal is processed, and an image of a program broadcast on the channel And audio / video output means for outputting audio,
In a broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring program information indicating an attribute of a program broadcast on each channel and creating an electronic program guide from the program information;
Comprising storage means for preliminarily storing words included in a program that restricts viewing;
The video / audio output means includes:
When the channel is selected, the storage means stores the program information corresponding to the program broadcast on the channel after starting to output video and audio of the program broadcast on the channel. Determining means for determining whether the word to be included is included;
And a mute unit for muting the video and / or the audio when the determination unit determines that the word stored in the storage unit is included.

First, it is divided into a first scene in which a word included in a program that restricts viewing is input and a second scene in which a channel is selected.
In this configuration, the second scene is assumed.
In this configuration, the broadcast receiving apparatus is, for example, a cable television or a digital television. In addition to the program, the broadcasting station broadcasts program information indicating the attributes (program name, performers, etc.) of the program broadcast on each channel. The broadcast receiving apparatus creates an electronic program guide from the program information and provides the electronic program guide to the user on the screen. The electronic program guide is, for example, EPG (Electronic Program Guide). The video / audio output means includes a display screen that displays video and a speaker that emits audio.
In this configuration, when a channel is selected, the video / audio output means switches the channel. Then, only when the determination means determines that the word stored in the storage means is included, the mute means mute. Here, the determination means determines that the program broadcast on the selected channel is a program whose viewing is restricted.
When the muting means is muted, the display screen of the video / audio output means is blue back or black back. Also, the sound output from the video / audio output means is muted. That is, a program in which a performer disliked by the user or a program disliked by the user is muted. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a user from viewing a program that the user does not want to view by mistake.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from being offended. Further, since the channel is switched at the same time as the channel is selected, the user's usability is not deteriorated by restricting viewing.

(2) word input means for accepting input of the word;
Recording means for recording the word input by the word input means in the storage means.

  In this configuration, the first scene is assumed. The word recorded in the storage means by the recording means is used in the second scene (1).

(3) The video / audio output means includes:
Has an OSD display function to display the desired OSD image,
In the OSD image, it is displayed that the word is included in the selected channel.

In this configuration, the OSD display indicating that the selected channel contains a word is, for example, “The program broadcast on the selected channel contained the word you registered, It has been muted. "
Here, if the program is suddenly muted, the user may misunderstand that the broadcast receiving apparatus is out of order.
Therefore, an OSD message is displayed indicating that the selected channel contains words.
Thereby, the user recognizes the reason why the video and audio are muted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from misunderstanding that the broadcast receiving apparatus is out of order.
Note that the following configuration may be added to the above configurations (1) to (3).
The image processing apparatus further includes selection means for receiving a selection as to whether or not to cancel the mute, and the video / audio output means operates in accordance with the selection by the selection means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from being offended. Further, since the channel is switched at the same time as the channel is selected, the user's usability is not deteriorated by restricting viewing.

  Hereinafter, a broadcast receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a digital television which is an embodiment of the present invention. A digital television (TV) 101 includes a control unit 2 that controls the operation of each unit of the apparatus, a tuner 3 that extracts a television broadcast signal of a selected channel (hereinafter referred to as CH), and an extracted television broadcast signal. A demodulator 4 that demodulates digital data, a decoder 5 that separates video data and audio data from the demodulated digital data and decompresses both data, and a desired OSD (On Screen Display) and video based on the video data. An image synthesizing unit 6 for synthesizing, a D / A converting unit 8 for converting signals of video data and audio data into analog signals, an operating unit 11 for accepting user operations, and an EPG data memory 14 for storing EPG data And a storage unit 15 that stores the control program, a display unit 32 that displays video, and a speaker 31 that generates sound outside the apparatus.
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the broadcast station broadcasts program information indicating the attributes (program name, performer, etc.) of the program broadcast on each channel in addition to the program.

  The storage unit 15 is composed of, for example, an EEPROM.

  The control unit 2 is constituted by a microcomputer, for example. The control unit 2 includes a RAM (not shown) as a work field for expanding data processed by the control program, and a time measuring unit (not shown) for measuring the current time. This current time is for use in S3 of FIG.

  When a command (command) such as EPG display, power ON / OFF, channel selection, volume adjustment or the like is input to the operation unit 11, the operation unit 11 transmits the command to the control unit 2. Here, the operation unit 11 has a channel selection key for selecting a channel of a desired program. The operation unit 11 includes a remote control device.

The tuner 3 extracts the television broadcast signal of the channel selected by the control unit 2 from the television broadcast signal received by the antenna 30 and outputs it.
The demodulator 4 demodulates the television broadcast signal output from the tuner 3 into a transport stream that is digital data, and outputs the transport stream.

  The decoder 5 separates and extracts video data, audio data, and EPG data from the transport stream output from the demodulator 4. Here, the separated and extracted video data is encoded by, for example, MPEG. Then, the decoder 5 decodes and outputs the video data. The output video data is input to the D / A conversion unit 8 via the image synthesis unit 6. The decoder 5 decodes the audio data and outputs it to the D / A converter 8.

  The image composition unit 6 incorporates an image memory (not shown). The image synthesis unit 6 synthesizes the video based on the video data and the characters or graphics stored in the image memory based on the control signal given from the control unit 2. The image synthesis unit 6 outputs the synthesized data thus synthesized to the D / A conversion unit 8.

The D / A conversion unit 8 converts the video data signal output from the decoder 5 into an analog playback video signal and outputs the analog playback video signal to the display unit 32. The display unit 32 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The D / A converter 8 converts the audio data signal output from the decoder 5 into an analog reproduced audio signal and outputs the analog reproduced audio signal to the speaker 31.
The user can view the video based on the video signal output from the D / A conversion unit 8 and the voice based on the audio signal on the display unit 32 and the speaker 31.

  Further, the D / A conversion unit 8 has a mute function for muting the reproduced video signal output to the display unit 32 and the reproduced audio signal output to the speaker 31.

  Here, the control unit 2, the tuner 3, the demodulation unit 4, the decoder 5, the image synthesis unit 6, the D / A conversion unit 8, the speaker 31, and the display unit 32 correspond to the “video / audio output unit” of the present invention. . The decoder 5 and the control unit 2 correspond to “determination means” of the present invention. The control unit 2 corresponds to “acquisition means” of the present invention. The D / A converter 8 corresponds to the “mute means” of the present invention. The storage unit 15 corresponds to the “storage unit” of the present invention.

On the other hand, the decoder 5 outputs the EPG data separated and extracted as described above to the control unit 2. The EPG data describes the attributes (program name, performer, etc.) of the program broadcast on each channel.
Here, the EPG data corresponds to “program information” of the present invention.

  The control unit 2 records the EPG data output from the decoder 5 in the EPG data memory 14. The EPG data memory 14 is composed of, for example, an EEPROM. The control unit 2 reads the EPG data stored in the EPG data memory 14 and outputs the EPG data to the image composition unit 6 when an EPG display is instructed.

The image composition unit 6 converts EPG data into image data. Then, the image composition unit 6 outputs the image data alone to the D / A conversion unit 8. Alternatively, the image composition unit 6 synthesizes an image based on the image data with a video based on the video data output from the decoder 5 to form composite data. Then, the image composition unit 6 outputs the composite data to the D / A conversion unit 8.
Thereby, for example, an EPG image as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display unit 32.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the EPG screen. In recent years, as the number of broadcasts has increased, the contents of programs have been diversified. However, the user can easily select a channel by using this EPG.

  Here, among broadcast programs, there are programs in which performers that the user dislikes and programs that the user dislikes.

  Therefore, this embodiment is configured as follows.

  The description will be divided into a first scene where a word included in a program that restricts viewing is input and a second scene where a channel is selected. First, the first scene where a word is input will be described.

The operation unit 11 includes a viewing restriction word input key (not shown) that accepts input of words included in a program that restricts viewing.
In this embodiment, the word is a program name or a performer name.

  The user inputs a word using the viewing restriction word input key. When a word is input, the control unit 2 records the word in the storage unit 15.

  Here, the viewing restriction word input key corresponds to the “word input means” of the present invention. The control unit 2 corresponds to the “recording unit” of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the storage unit 15. A plurality of words included in a program for which viewing is restricted can be set in the storage unit 15. In the storage unit 15, parameters such as a program name and performer name can be registered as words.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the program name field (column) stores the program name of the program whose viewing is restricted. In the performer name field, the performer name of the program whose viewing is restricted is stored.

  Next, a second scene where a channel is selected will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the control unit when a channel is selected in the digital television according to the embodiment of the present invention.
When a channel is selected, the control unit 2 instructs the tuner 3 and the demodulation unit 4 to extract a television broadcast signal of the selected channel (S1). As a result, the channel is switched. That is, video and audio output of a program broadcast on the channel is started on the display unit 32 and the speaker 31.
When there are a physical channel and a virtual channel, the control unit 2 instructs the tuner 3 and the demodulation unit 4 on the physical channel and instructs the decoder 5 on the virtual channel.

  Next, the control part 2 reads the word memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 15 (S2).

  Then, the control unit 2 refers to the EPG data stored in the EPG data memory 14 and determines whether or not the read word is included in the EPG data corresponding to the program broadcast on the selected channel. Is determined (S3). S3 will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, if the current time is 16:00 and 1CH is selected, the determination is affirmative because the program name and performer of FIG. 3 are included in the program AC of FIG. If the current time is 20:00 and 1CH is selected, the performer of FIG. 3 is included in the program AD of FIG. If the current time is 16:00 and 2CH is selected, the program name and performer of FIG. 3 are not included in the program BC of FIG.

  If it is determined that the read word is not included, the control unit 2 ends this process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the read word is included, the control unit 2 turns on the mute function of the D / A conversion unit 8 (S4). That is, the control unit 2 instructs the D / A conversion unit 8 to mute the video and audio (S4). Thereby, the display screen of the display part 32 becomes a blue back or a black back. The sound output from the speaker 31 is muted. That is, a program in which a performer disliked by the user or a program disliked by the user is muted. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a user from viewing a program that the user does not want to view by mistake.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from being offended. Further, since the channel is switched at the same time as the channel is selected, the user's usability is not deteriorated by restricting viewing.

Here, if the program is suddenly muted, the user may misunderstand that the digital television 101 is out of order.
Therefore, the control unit 2 records a message indicating that a word is included in the selected channel in the image memory of the image synthesis unit 6, and instructs the image synthesis unit 6 to synthesize the message with the video signal ( S5). And the control part 2 complete | finishes this process. As a result, the image composition unit 6 outputs composite data for displaying that a word is included in the selected channel to the D / A conversion unit 8. Then, the display unit 32 performs OSD display indicating that the selected channel includes a word. The OSD indication that the selected channel contains a word is, for example, “The program broadcast on the selected channel contained the word you registered, so the video and audio were muted. Is.

  Thereby, the user recognizes the reason why the video and audio are muted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from misunderstanding that the digital television 101 is out of order.

  Moreover, the following modifications can be employed in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The operation unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a mute release selection key (not shown) that receives a selection as to whether or not to release the mute performed in S4.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the control unit when a channel is selected in a digital television which is a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. In this operation, S5 in FIG. 4 is replaced with S15, and S16 and S17 are added after S15. The other processes (S1 to S4) are the same.

  The control unit 2 records in the image memory of the image composition unit 6 a message that the selected channel contains a word and a message that prompts the user to select whether or not to cancel the mute, and displays these messages as video. The image composition unit 6 is instructed to compose the signal (S15). The message for prompting selection of whether or not to cancel mute is, for example, “Please select whether or not to cancel mute with the mute cancel selection key”.

Then, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the mute release performed in S4 is selected and input (S16). Here, in a state where a message prompting the user to select whether or not to cancel mute is displayed on the display 32, the user can select whether or not to cancel mute with the mute cancel selection key. For example, if “Taro Osaka” has been registered as a disliked performer in the past, but the user wants to watch normally this time, the user releases the mute.
Thereby, the user can select whether or not to cancel the mute according to his / her usage method. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

  If it is determined that the mute cancellation performed in S4 has been selected and input, the control unit 2 ends this process. That is, the program muted in S4 remains muted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the mute release performed in S4 is selected and input, the control unit 2 turns off the mute function of the D / A conversion unit 8 (S17), and ends this process. As a result, the mute of the program muted in S4 is released.

The block diagram which shows the main structures of the digital television which is embodiment of this invention Figure showing a display example of the EPG screen The figure which shows the content memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 15 The flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a control part performs when the channel is selected in the digital television which is embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a control part performs when the channel is selected in the digital television which is a modification of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2-Control unit 3-Tuner 4-Demodulation unit 5-Decoder 6-Image composition unit 8-D / A conversion unit 11-Operation unit 14-EPG data memory 15-Storage unit 30-Antenna 31-Speaker 32-Display unit 101 -Digital television

Claims (4)

When a TV broadcast signal is received and a channel is selected, the TV broadcast signal of the selected channel is extracted, the extracted TV broadcast signal is processed, and the video and audio of the program broadcast on the channel are extracted. Video and audio output means for outputting;
In a broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring program information indicating an attribute of a program broadcast on each channel and creating an electronic program guide from the program information;
Word input means for receiving input of the word;
Storage means for storing words included in a program that restricts viewing;
Recording means for recording the word input in the word input means in the storage means,
The video / audio output means includes:
(1) When the channel is selected, output of video and audio of a program broadcast on the channel is started, and then the storage is included in the program information corresponding to the program broadcast on the channel. Determining means for determining whether the word stored by the means is included;
(2) When the determination means determines that the word stored in the storage means is included, a mute means for muting the video and / or the audio;
(3) an OSD display function for displaying a desired OSD image;
(4) A broadcast receiving apparatus that displays that the word is included in the selected channel in the OSD image. When a TV broadcast signal is received and a channel is selected, the TV broadcast signal of the selected channel is extracted, the extracted TV broadcast signal is processed, and the video and audio of the program broadcast on the channel are extracted. Video and audio output means for outputting;
In a broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring program information indicating an attribute of a program broadcast on each channel and creating an electronic program guide from the program information;
Comprising storage means for preliminarily storing words included in a program that restricts viewing;
The video / audio output means includes:
When the channel is selected, the storage means stores the program information corresponding to the program broadcast on the channel after starting to output video and audio of the program broadcast on the channel. Determining means for determining whether the word to be included is included;
A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: a mute unit that mutes the video and / or the audio when the determination unit determines that the word stored in the storage unit is included. Word input means for receiving input of the word;
The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a recording unit that records the word input by the word input unit in the storage unit. The video / audio output means includes:
Has an OSD display function to display the desired OSD image,
The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the OSD image displays that the word is included in the selected channel.

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